Carolina residents accuse mayor of gatekeeping mining deals

Mining promises sidelined by politics, say community leaders

Tensions are simmering in Carolina, Mpumalanga, where residents claim their voices are being drowned out by a mayor who has positioned himself as the middleman between mining companies and the community.

Chief Albert Luthuli mayor Mbuso Magubane is accused of creating a mining committee that locals believe functions less as a representative body and more as a political gatekeeper.

According to the Carolina Community Forum (CCF), the committee was set up without proper consultation and is dominated by businesspeople and government officials who report directly to the mayor’s office.

Jobs and opportunities lost in translation

For many in Carolina, mining has always carried the promise of jobs and development. But that promise feels increasingly out of reach.

CCF leader Makhaza Ntuli said a new mine recently opened in the area, and residents hoped it would bring employment and business opportunities. Instead, when the forum reached out to management, it was the mayor, not the minethat replied.

“To our surprise, the mayor responded to our letter instead of the mining firm. He told us he was unavailable, without suggesting another time. When we contacted the mine directly, they told us they could only engage with us once the mayor approved,” Ntuli explained.

The shift is deeply unsettling for locals who have historically been able to engage mines directly. Many now fear that corporate responsibilitiesespecially social and labour plans (SLPs) meant to uplift communities, will be bypassed.

Letters expose control

Leaked correspondence appears to confirm these fears. A letter from Ilima Coal Company stated that all community meetings with mines must be coordinated through Magubane’s office, with feedback routed back to him.

“There will be no parallel engagement or meetings with different local structures or individuals claiming to be representing the community,” the letter read.

The mayor’s office, when approached by the media, initially declined to comment. Hours later, however, a sudden invitation was sent out to community leaders, calling them to a meeting where the mayor would “formally introduce” the committeesix months after it had already begun operating.

Experts warn of political capture

Mining experts say this is far from an isolated case. David Van Wyk, a respected analyst, noted that political interference in mining regions is alarmingly common.

“Everyone wants a slice of the cake,” Van Wyk said, warning that ANC-aligned leaders often position themselves as brokers between mines and communities instead of ensuring benefits flow directly to the poor.

Mpho Nkawana, national coordinator of Mining Affected Communities in Action, went further, arguing that the mayor’s committee has no legal standing.

“The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act makes provision for social and labour plans, which must be developed in consultation with host communities and technical committees. What it does not allow is for politicians to unilaterally set up mining committees,” Nkawana said.

A community caught in the middle

For residents of Carolina, the battle is about more than paperwork or protocolit’s about survival. Mining towns across South Africa have long been promised development, yet too often are left with broken infrastructure, environmental damage, and high unemployment.

On social media, Mpumalanga residents voiced frustration, with some accusing the mayor of “eating for himself” while sidelining ordinary people. Others pointed out that Carolina’s struggles mirror those of many mining towns across the country, where political gatekeeping often turns mines into contested fiefdoms.

As investigations continue and pressure mounts on Mayor Magubane, one question lingers: Will the voices of Carolina’s residents ever reach the decision-makers, or will politics continue to block the road to opportunity?

{Source: The Citizen}

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